From 25-29 January 1716, in the midst of a bitter winter, the Jacobites burned the Strathearn villages of Auchterarder, Blackford, Dalreoch, Crieff, Dunning, and Muthill after driving out the inhabitants in an attempt to hinder the advance of the Duke of Argyll’s government army towards Perth. Following the inconclusive clash with the government forces of George I under John Campbell, Duke of Argyll on the field of Sheriffmuir on 13 November 1715, the Jacobite army of James Francis Edward Stuart under the command of John Erskine, Earl of Mar withdrew back to their base of operations at Perth.